Got Milkweed?

Do you want to attract more butterflies to your garden? If so, you should plant Butterfly Milkweed. This tough and easy perennial loves sun and reseeds easily. Milkweed is the larval food for Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars. The butterfly will lay eggs on the plant and the caterpillars will hatch and eat until they are ready to make a cocoon. Every year the plant will come back and so will the butterflies. Other butterfly attractors include Lantana, Pentas, Parsley, and Fennel.

The Heat Is On!

Summer has arrived in Savannah. The heat and humidity will spawn all sorts of problems in your lawn and garden. Fungus will be rampant and I suggest an application of fungicide to your lawn to keep it under control. Watch plants for signs of fungus and treat as needed. If you aren't sure, bring a sample of the infected plant in to the store and we can make a diagnosis. Watch for bad bugs. I've seen lots of mealy bugs recently. They look like fluffy white cotton on the stalks of the plant. Knock them off with water or spray with a lightweight horticultural oil. Keep fertilizing your flowering plants, especially hanging baskets and containers, with a liquid fertilizer. We recommend ferti-lome Rooting and Blooming.

Don't Bug Out!

I have had a few worried customers bring me jars full of these little striped bugs. They are called Barklice and they are harmless to both you and your plants. There is no need to spray them. Barklice eat lichen and decaying plant material. When they hatch out there can be hundreds of them swarming around on things. You may also notice a fine white webbing on the trunks of the trees that looks like a white stocking has been pulled over them. This is their protective house. They won't hurt anything and will go away on their own.

Garden Expo

Sorry about the delay on the posts, we've been really busy here at the store. We just wrapped up the Garden Expo at the Roundhouse. This is our second year competing in the Expo. You may remember our pirate ship from last year. This year, the theme was "Going and Growing Green." We decided to use all found materials for our "Homegrown" garden. An old potting table became a shady porch and old tin roofing became planters that we filled with veggies, herbs, fruit and butterfly and bee attracting flowers. We had lots of fun, but it was lots of work and we're glad to be done.

We are bustin at the seams!

We have tons of beautiful plants in stock! Way too many to list. Calladiums, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Plumbago, Daisy Shrubs, Loropetalum, Passion Flower Vine... the list goes on. If you are wondering what those hot pink flowering shrubs are that are blooming all over town, they are Loropetalum, or Fringe Flower. They are a great evergreen shrub for sun. You may also be seeing a yellow flowering vine in the woods; this is a Carolina Jessamine. The trees with white flowers are flowering pears. Come on in and let us help you brighten up your garden!

Spring has Sprung!

It finally looks like spring at Hester & Zipperer. We have some beautiful plants with lots of color. Spring annuals are here including Petunias, Begonias, Impatiens, and Alyssum. The Geraniums are gorgeous and we have tons of fresh hanging baskets. We also have a big selection of veggies and herbs so come get your spring on!

Let's get to it!

Hello to everyone! If you're like me, you're ready for some warm weather. Well, I think we're finally going to get some. It's been a long, cold winter and I think we could all use some quality time outside. Here at the Wilmington Island Hester & Zipperer we're gearing up for Spring. The plants are really starting to roll in. We are stocked up on fruit trees for those of you who want to grow your own. We also have tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, seed potatoes, and onions. Squash and zucchini plants will be here soon. If you haven't prepared your vegetable beds for spring now is the time. Work in some compost, hydrated lime, and triple superphosphate before you plant. We will have a free veggie gardening workshop here on Sunday, March 21st at 2:00pm so mark your calendar.